Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Bat Hepatitis B Viruses in Bat Species Living in Gabon.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection leads to around 800,000 deaths yearly and is considered to be a major public health problem worldwide. However, HBV origins remain poorly understood. Here, we looked for bat HBV (BtHBV) in different bat species in Gabon to investigate the role of these animals as carriers of ancestral hepadnaviruses because these viruses are much more diverse in bats than in other host species. DNA was extracted from 859 bat livers belonging to 11 species collected in caves and villages in the southeast of Gabon and analyzed using PCRs targeting the surface gene. Positive samples were sequenced using the Sanger method. BtHBV DNA was detected in 64 (7.4%) individuals belonging to eight species mainly collected in caves. Thirty-six (36) sequences among the 37 obtained after sequencing were phylogenetically close to the RBHBV strain recently isolated in Gabonese bats, while the remaining sequence was close to a rodent HBV strain isolated in America. The generalized linear mixed model showed that the variable species best explained the occurrence of BtHBV infection in bats. The discovery of a BtHBV strain homologous to a rodent strain in bats raises the possibility that these animals may be carriers of ancestral hepadnaviruses.

Prevalence of pretreatment HIV resistance to integrase inhibitors in West African and Southeast Asian countries.

OBJECTIVES: Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have been recently recommended as the preferred first-line option for antiretroviral treatment initiators in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in response to the growing circulation of resistant HIV to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). In this study, we estimated the frequency of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) to INSTIs in West Africa and Southeast Asia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using samples collected from 2015 to 2016, and previously used to assessed PI, NRTI and NNRTI resistance, we generated HIV integrase sequences and identified relevant INSTI PDR mutations using the Stanford and ANRS algorithms. RESULTS: We generated 353 integrase sequences. INSTI PDR frequency was low, 1.1% (4/353) overall, ranging from 0% to 6.3% according to country. However, frequency of PDR to any drug class was very high, 17.9% (95% CI: 13.9%-22.3%), and mostly associated with a high level of NNRTI PDR, 9.7%, and a moderate level of NRTI PDR, 5.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the recent introduction of INSTIs in LMICs to improve treatment outcome in these settings, but also stress the need for effective actions to prevent uncontrolled emergence of drug resistance to this drug class.

Prevalence of HIV drug resistance among adolescents receiving ART in Cameroon with low- or high-level viraemia.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) below and above the WHO threshold of 1000 copies/mL, considered for the definition of HIV ART failure in resource-limited settings. METHODS: From a cohort of 280 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) receiving ART for at least 6 months, genotypic resistance testing (GRT) was attempted for two groups of participants: participants with low-level viraemia [LLV; viral load (VL) 200-999 copies/mL] and those in virological failure (VF; confirmed VL ≥1000 copies/mL) using an in-house method. The Stanford HIValg Program was used to identify relevant HIVDR mutations and predict the efficacy of the newly introduced tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir combination. RESULTS: GRT was successfully performed in 54/58 (93.1%) eligible participants, of which 28/31 (90.3%) were in VF and 26/27 (96.3%) had LLV. A high level of resistance was found both in adolescents with LLV and those in VF, with respectively 84.6% (22/26) and 75.0% (21/28) of participants harbouring at least one HIVDR mutation. NRTIs and NNRTIs were the most affected drug classes in both population groups. In contrast, PIs were not significantly affected and dolutegravir was expected to be active for all participants tested. However, for the newly introduced dolutegravir-based combination, functional monotherapy (dolutegravir only) was potentially possible for 22.7% (5/22) of the participants with LLV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that the 1000 copies/mL threshold is not an indicator of virological success and we call for a revision of the current WHO definition of VF in resource-limited countries.

Burden of hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the southern Gabon.

Objectives: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a public health threat in middle- and low-income countries, where mother-to-child transmission plays an important role. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of this infection among pregnant women in southern Gabon and the risk of vertical transmission. Methods: The study was a prospective investigation conducted from April 2021 to January 2022. Study participants were pregnant women aged 18 and over attending antenatal clinics in Franceville. Blood samples were collected to test for HBV surface antigen, anti-hepatitis B core, hepatitis B e antigen, and anti-hepatitis B e markers and to assess HBV infection. Results: We recruited 901 women with a median age of 26 years (interquartile range: 21-32). Overall prevalence of infection was 3.9% (confidence interval: 2.7-5.4%). 418/901 or 46.4% were anti-hepatitis B core positive. Among HBV surface antigen-positive women, 1/35 were hepatitis B e antigen-positive with a viral load >200,000 IU/ml. Over 64% of participants had no information about HBV infection, and none knew that the virus could be transmitted from mother to child. Conclusions: This study reveals a low HBV prevalence in pregnant women in Gabon and a low risk of vertical transmission of the virus. However, the rate of exposure of the population to the virus remains high and calls for improving actions and interventions for potential elimination goals.

Viral load suppression in HIV-infected adolescents in cameroon: towards achieving the UNAIDS 95% viral suppression target.

BACKGROUND: Achieving the UNAIDS 95% sustained viral suppression (VS) rate requires considerable global efforts, particularly among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) who are often associated with high rates of virological failure (VF). In this study, we prospectively assessed the rate of VS, and the factors associated with VF in a cohort of adolescents followed up according to the WHO guidelines in Cameroon. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2021 among adolescents (aged 10-19 years) receiving ART in the national program in Cameroon. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using patients' medical files and a brief interview with the participant and/or his guardian. Thereafter, a first viral load test (VL1) was performed using the ABBOTT Platform. For adolescents with VL1 > 1000 copies/ml, adherence-enhancing interventions were routinely performed each month for 3 consecutive months, after which a second viral load (VL2) was measured. Adolescents with VL2 > 1000 copies/ml were considered in VF. RESULTS: Overall, 280 adolescents were enrolled, of whom 89.3% (250/280) acquired HIV infection via mother-to-child transmission. The median age was 16.0 (IQR: 13.0-18.0) years and the median duration on ART was 9.8 (IQR: 5.1-12.8) years. Females and males were almost equally represented, as 52.1% (146/280) were female, while 47.9% (134/280) were males (p = 0.47). The VS rate was 88.2% (CI: 83.8-91.7%) overall; 89.0% (CI: 82.0-93.1%) and 88.7% (CI: 81.2-93.0%) in females and males, respectively. Being on second or third-line ART, self-declared suboptimal adherence, and a history of past VF were independently associated with VF. CONCLUSION: The high rate of VS we report in this study is welcome in the era of the 95/95/95 UNAIDS goals, and indicates that improving treatment outcomes in this specific and fragile population that represent adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa is achievable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: 20/10/2020 NCT04593979 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04593979 ).

Rate of virological failure and HIV-1 drug resistance among HIV-infected adolescents in routine follow-up on health facilities in Cameroon.

The objective of this study was to determine the rates of virological failure (VF) and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) amongst adolescents on antiretroviral Therapy (ART). A retrospectively designed study was conducted in 10 healthcare centers for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in the two main cities of Cameroon (Yaoundé and Douala), from November 2018 to May 2019. Sociodemographic, clinical, therapeutic and laboratory parameters were collected from medical records. All enrolled ALHIV had viral load (VL) measurements following the national guidelines. All patients with a VL ≥ 1000 copies/ml were called to perform genotyping tests. The chi-square test was used to determine the factors associated with VF. Out of the 1316 medical records of ALHIV, we included 1083 ALHIV having a VL result. Among them, 276 (25.5%) were experiencing VF, and VF was significantly higher in ALHIV with suboptimal adherence (p<0.001), older adolescents (p<0.05), those who lived outside the city where they were receiving ART (p<0.006), severely immunocompromised (p<0.01) and started ART at infancy (p<0.02). Among the 45/276 (16.3%) participants with an available genotyping resistance testing (GRT) result, the overall rate of HIVDR was 93.3% (42/45). The most common mutations were K103N (n = 21/42, 52.3%) resulting in high-level resistance to Efavirenz and Nevirapine, followed by M184V (n = 20/42, 47.6%) and thymidine analog mutations (n = 15/42, 35.7%) associated with high-level resistance to Lamivudine and Zidovudine respectively. The high rate of VF and HIVDR among ALHIV regularly followed in health facilities in Cameroon highlights the need to develop interventions adapted to an adolescent-centered approach to preserve future ART options.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Republic of Congo in mid-2021.

Objectives: To estimate the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in the general population in the Republic of Congo. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted from June to July 2021, participants were recruited from the general population in three districts in the Republic of Congo. Eligible participants were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a rapid diagnostic assay. Results: Overall, 31.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 29.5-34.0] of the 1669 participants tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Higher prevalence was observed in the rural region (37.3%, 95% CI 31.0-44.1%) than the urban region (30.9%, 95% CI 28.5-33.3); however, the difference was not significant. The risk of testing positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increased significantly with age, ranging from 22.5% (95% CI 18.1-27.5) in 15-24 year olds to 47.9% (95% CI 39.3-56.5) in 55-64 year olds. Conclusions: The antibody levels observed in this survey correlate with a moderate rate of virus circulation, which correlates with the low number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 in the Republic of Congo.

Trend of expansion of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 burden in Gabon (Central Africa) in mid-2021, based on a serological survey.

Objective: To estimate the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the general population in Gabon, Central Africa. Methods: From May to July 2021, a cross-sectional study involving participants recruited in the general population in three districts in Gabon was conducted. Eligible participants who provided written informed consent were tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a simple rapid diagnostic assay. Results: Overall, 1609 participants were recruited, 1361 (84.6%) from urban sites and 248 (15.4%) from a rural area. The estimated overall seroprevalence was 13.1% (95% CI 11.4-14.8%). The risk of seropositivity increased with age, and the prevalence in the different age groups ranged from 12.9% (8.0-19.4%) in those aged 15-24 years to 23.3% (14.2-34.6%) in those ≥ 65 years old. A higher prevalence was found in the rural population (17.3%; 12.8-22.6%) compared with urban regions (12.3%; 10.6-14.1%). Being a woman was also associated with higher risk of infection (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This seroprevalence survey revealed a moderate seroprevalence in Gabon, illustrating a relatively low rate of circulation of the virus in the country and correlating with low numbers of confirmed cases and deaths reported to date.

Demographic and Clinical Characteristics Associated With Severity, Clinical Outcomes, and Mortality of COVID-19 Infection in Gabon.

Importance: Since the emergence of COVID-19 in central China, sub-Saharan African countries, with the exception of South Africa, have been relatively spared during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, few descriptive studies from this region are available. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 infection in Gabon, from March to June 2020. Design, Setting, and Participants: A single-center, cross-sectional study of 837 patients with COVID-19 was conducted from March to June 2020 in the Armed Forces Hospital in Libreville, Gabon. Main Outcomes and Measures: Demographic and clinical characteristics and imaging findings of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Results: Of the 837 patients enrolled, 572 (68.3%) were men, and 264 (31.5%) were women (male to female ratio, 2:1); the median (interquartile range [IQR]) age was 35 (30-45) years (mean [SD] age, 38.0 [12.2] years. The mortality rate associated with COVID-19 was low (1.4%). Of these 837 patients, 524 (62.6%) were categorized as having no symptoms, 282 (33.7%) as having mild symptoms, and 31 (3.7%) as having severe symptoms. Patients with severe symptoms were older (mean [SD] age, 46.1 [14.7] years) than patients with mild symptoms (mean [SD] age, 41.3 [12.5] years) and those with no symptoms (mean [SD] age, 35.7 [11.3] years) (Kruskal-Wallis χ22 = 53.5; P < .001). History of diabetes was the principal risk factor associated with both severe symptoms in 5 of 31 patients (16.1%) and mild symptoms in 11 of 282 (3.9%) compared with no symptoms in 5 of 524 (0.9%) (Pearson χ22 = 30.9; P < .001). Patients with severe symptoms and a fatal outcome were older (mean [SD] age, 53.4 [15.1] years) than survivors (mean [SD] age, 41.5 [12.9] years) (t20.83 = 2.2; P = .03). Conclusions and Relevance: In this single-center, cross-sectional study in Libreville, Gabon, the mortality rate associated with COVID-19 infection from March to June 2020 was low, and patients who died of COVID-19 infection were younger on average than reported elsewhere, possibly reflecting a smaller elderly population in Gabon.

High rate of virological failure and HIV drug resistance in semi-rural Gabon and implications for dolutegravir-based regimen efficacy.

BACKGROUND: The projected UNAIDS goal of ending AIDS by 2030 requires significant global efforts to improve current and future ART strategies. In this study, we assessed viral load (VL) suppression and acquired drug resistance, as well as future efficacy of dolutegravir-based combinations for patients living in semi-rural regions of Gabon. METHODS: Eligible study participants were adults receiving ART and recruited between 2018 and 2019 in Franceville, Gabon. VL testing was conducted to assess VL suppression and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) testing was performed to identify resistance mutations and assess their impact on ongoing and future ART regimens. RESULTS: We recruited 219 participants overall. The median time on ART was 27 months and 216/219 participants were on first-line ART. VL suppression (VL < 1000 copies/mL) was 57.1% (95% CI 50.5-63.8) overall; 59.4% (51.4-67.5) and 52.2% (40.3-64.2) for women and men, respectively. The overall prevalence of HIVDR was 21.9% among the study population and 67.2% among those who failed ART. Presence of both NRTI and NNRTI mutations was found in 84.6% of sequences with drug resistance mutations, and full activity of a dolutegravir-based first-line regimen including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/dolutegravir was expected only for 5/39 patients with a resistant virus. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a very low rate of VL suppression in a semi-rural context in Africa. Moreover, the high burden of HIVDR has affected both current and newly recommended ART strategies. Better management of ART in resource-limited settings is still a challenging ambition.

Tenofovir resistance in early and long-term treated patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy in eight low-income and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the frequency of tenofovir (TDF) resistance in people failing tenofovir/lamivudine or emtricitabine (XTC)/nonnucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based first-line antiretroviral treatment (ART) using data from 15 nationally representative surveys of HIV drug resistance conducted between 2014 and 2018 in Cameroon, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. METHODS: Prevalence of nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor resistance among participants with virological nonsuppression (viral load ≥1000 copies/ml) who had received TDF-based ART for 12-24 months (early ART group) and at least 40 months (long-term ART group) was assessed using Sanger sequencing and resistance was interpreted using the Stanford HIVdb algorithm. For each group, we estimated a pooled prevalence using random effect meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of 4677 participants enrolled in the surveys, 640 (13.7%) had virological nonsuppression, 431 (67.3%) were successfully genotyped and were included in the analysis; of those, 60.3% (260) were participants in the early ART group. Overall, 39.1, 57.9, 38.5 and 3.6% patients in the early ART group and 42.9, 69.3, 42.9 and 10.0% patients on long-term ART had resistance to TDF, XTC, TDF + XTC and TDF + XTC + zidovudine, respectively. Overall, tenofovir resistance was mainly due to K65R or K70E/G/N/A/S/T/Y115F mutations (79%) but also due to thymidine analogue mutations (21%) which arise from exposure to thymidine analogues but causing cross-resistance to TDF. CONCLUSION: Dual resistance to TDF + XTC occurred in more than 40% of the people with viral nonsuppression receiving tenofovir-based first-line ART, supporting WHO recommendation to optimize the nucleoside backbone in second-line treatment and cautioning against single drug substitutions in people with unsuppressed viral load.

Comparative Immunovirological and Clinical Responses to Antiretroviral Therapy Between HIV-1 Group O and HIV-1 Group M Infected Patients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about impact of genetic divergence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 group O (HIV-1/O) relative to HIV-1 group M (HIV-1/M) on therapeutic outcomes. We aimed to determine if responses to standardized combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) were similar between groups despite strain divergence. METHODS: We performed an open nonrandomized study comparing the immunological, virological, and clinical responses to cART based on 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus 1 ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor, in naive and paired HIV-1/O vs HIV-1/M infected (+) patients (ratio 1:2), matched on several criteria. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with undetectable plasma viral load (pVL, threshold 60 copies/mL) at week (W) 48. Secondary endpoints were the proportion of patients with undetectable pVL at W24 and W96 and CD4 evolution between baseline and W24, W48, and W96. RESULTS: Forty-seven HIV-1/O+ and 94 HIV-1/M+ patients were included. Mean pVL at baseline was significantly lower by 1 log for HIV-1/O+ vs HIV-1/M+ patients. At W48, no significant difference was observed between populations with undetectable pVL and differences at W24 and W96 were not significant. A difference in CD4 gain was observed in favor of HIV-1/M at W48 and W96, but this was not significant when adjusted on both matched criteria and pVL at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate similar immunovirological and clinical response between HIV-1/O+ and HIV-1/M+ patients. They also reveal significantly lower baseline replication for HIV-1/O variants, suggesting specific virological properties and physiopathology that now need to be addressed. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00658346.

Increasing levels of pretreatment HIV drug resistance and safety concerns for dolutegravir use in women of reproductive age.

: Use of dolutegravir-based first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in response to rising levels of pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) may be limited, given safety concerns for birth defects in women of child-bearing potential. Pooled data from 11 nationally representative surveys show that NNRTI PDR in women is nearly twice that in men, exceeding 10% in 8 of 11 countries monitored, suggesting the urgent need for a non-NNRTI-based ART regimen in this population.

Prevalence of pretreatment HIV drug resistance in West African and Southeast Asian countries.

Background: ART in the developing world has moved to a new era with the WHO recommendation to test and immediately treat HIV-positive individuals. A high frequency of pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) can compromise ART efficacy. Our study presents updated estimates of PDR in seven countries from West Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Togo) and Southeast Asia (Thailand and Vietnam). Methods: Eligible study participants were adult ART initiators, recruited from December 2015 to November 2016 in major ART clinics in each country. HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) tests were performed for all specimens and interpretation was done using the Stanford algorithm. Results: Overall, 1153 participants were recruited and 1020 nt sequences were generated. PDR frequency among all initiators was 15.9% (95% CI: 13.8%-18.3%) overall, ranging from 9.6% and 10.2% in Burkina Faso and Thailand, respectively, 14.7% in Vietnam, 15.4% in Mali, 16.5% in Côte d'Ivoire and 19.3% in Cameroon, to 24.6% in Togo. The prevalence of NNRTI resistance mutations was 12%; NRTI and PI PDR prevalences were 4% and 3%, respectively. Conclusions: Our study shows that in most countries PDR exceeded 10%, warranting the conduct of nationally representative surveys to confirm this trend. In the meantime, actions to prevent drug resistance, including transition from NNRTIs to more robust drug classes should be urgently implemented.

Prevalence of pretreatment HIV drug resistance in Cameroon following a nationally representative WHO survey.

Background: Pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) has the potential to affect treatment outcome and mortality. We present here the first nationally representative PDR study conducted in Cameroon. Methods: From February to July 2015, HIV-infected ART initiators were recruited from 24 randomly selected clinics situated in both urban and rural regions. Dried blood spot specimens were collected from study participants at these clinics and centralized in a reference laboratory in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for drug resistance testing. HIV drug resistance mutations were identified using the Stanford algorithm. Results: Overall, from the 379 participants recruited, 321 pol sequences were successfully interpreted. Two hundred and five sequences were from patients attending urban ART clinics and 116 from patients seen at rural facilities. Nine percent of sequences (29/321) were from participants reporting previous exposure to antiretrovirals. PDR prevalence among all initiators was 10.4% (95% CI 5.4%-19.1%), with 14.2% (95% CI 6.6%-27.9%) reported in urban areas and 4.3% (95% CI 1.2%-14.3%) in rural areas. Among participants with no prior exposure to antiretrovirals, PDR prevalence was 10.4% (95% CI 4.7%-21.5%) overall, with 13.5% (95% CI 5.1%-31.5%) and 5.3% (95% CI 1.4%-17.5%) reported in urban and rural areas, respectively. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that at least 10% of patients initiating ART in Cameroon carry viruses with PDR and may be at risk of premature ART failure. The high level of NNRTI-associated resistance is of particular concern and supports introduction of drugs with a higher genetic barrier to resistance.

Short Communication: Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors with Reduced Predicted Activity Do Not Impair Second-Line Therapy with Lopinavir/Ritonavir or Darunavir/Ritonavir.

Second-line therapy randomized trials with lopinavir/ritonavir question the value of resistance testing to guide nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) selection. In this study, we investigated the association between baseline drug resistance and treatment outcome after 104 weeks of second-line therapy with NRTIs and either darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir in West-central Africa. We did an observational analysis of data from 387 individuals in a randomized, open-label 2LADY trial in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Senegal. We modeled the association between RTI drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and virological failure (VF) (viral load [VL] <50 copies/mL) at week 104 using logistic regressions. Covariates included baseline VL and CD4+ count, demographic, and adherence data. Overall, 193 (49.9%), 150 (38.8%), and 44 (11.4%) individuals had, respectively, low/none (genotypic susceptibility score [GSS] <1), intermediate (GSS = 1), and high predicted NRTI activity (GSS >1) in their prescribed second-line regimen. The average number of DRMs by drug class, the proportion of individuals by GSS category, and the duration of first-line therapy were not associated with VF (p > .05). High VL at switch was the only consistent prognostic factor for VF after multivariate adjustment (p < .01). Suboptimal adherence, high predicted RTI activity, or low NRTI mutations were associated with VF (p < .05) when using higher end points for VF or in the intention-to-treat analysis. In conclusion, the use of RTIs with predicted reduced activity does not impair second-line protease inhibitor-based therapy. Therefore, HIV care in resource-limited settings should prioritize strategies to improve adherence and targeted VL testing over drug resistance testing for selecting NRTIs during a protease-based second-line switch.

HIV-1 drug resistance before initiation or re-initiation of first-line antiretroviral therapy in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pretreatment drug resistance in people initiating or re-initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) containing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) might compromise HIV control in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to assess the scale of this problem and whether it is associated with the intiation or re-initiation of ART in people who have had previous exposure to antiretroviral drugs. METHODS: This study was a systematic review and meta-regression analysis. We assessed regional prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance and risk of pretreatment drug resistance in people initiating ART who reported previous ART exposure. We systematically screened publications and unpublished datasets for pretreatment drug-resistance data in individuals in LMICs initiating or re-initiating first-line ART from LMICs. We searched for studies in PubMed and Embase and conference abstracts and presentations from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, the International AIDS Society Conference, and the International Drug Resistance Workshop for the period Jan 1, 2001, to Dec 31, 2016. To assess the prevalence of drug resistance within a specified region at any specific timepoint, we extracted study level data and pooled prevalence estimates within the region using an empty logistic regression model with a random effect at the study level. We used random effects meta-regression to relate sampling year to prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance within geographical regions. FINDINGS: We identified 358 datasets that contributed data to our analyses, representing 56 044 adults in 63 countries. Prevalence estimates of pretreatment NNRTI resistance in 2016 were 11·0% (7·5-15·9) in southern Africa, 10·1% (5·1-19·4) in eastern Africa, 7·2% (2·9-16·5) in western and central Africa, and 9·4% (6·6-13·2) in Latin America and the Caribbean. There were substantial increases in pretreatment NNRTI resistance per year in all regions. The yearly increases in the odds of pretreatment drug resistance were 23% (95% CI 16-29) in southern Africa, 17% (5-30) in eastern Africa, 17% (6-29) in western and central Africa, 11% (5-18) in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 11% (2-20) in Asia. Estimated increases in the absolute prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance between 2015 and 2016 ranged from 0·3% in Asia to 1·8% in southern Africa. INTERPRETATION: Pretreatment drug resistance is increasing at substantial rate in LMICs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, the prevalence of pretreatment NNRTI resistance was near WHO's 10% threshold for changing first-line ART in southern and eastern Africa and Latin America, underscoring the need for routine national HIV drug-resistance surveillance and review of national policies for first-line ART regimen composition. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and World Health Organization.

Nationwide Estimates of Viral Load Suppression and Acquired HIV Drug Resistance in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Population-based studies to estimate viral load (VL) suppression and rate of acquired HIV drug resistance (ADR) are essential in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted the first nationally representative study estimating VL suppression and ADR in Cameroon. METHODS: Eligible participants were patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 12 to 24 months (ART 12-24) or 48 to 60 months (ART 48-60). ART 12-24 participants were recruited from 24 randomly selected clinics in both urban and rural regions. ART 48-60 participants were recruited from 7 urban clinics. Recruitment occurred from February to August 2015. Dried blood spots (DBSs) and plasma specimens were collected and tested for HIV-1 RNA level and presence of drug resistance mutations (DRM) when VL ≥ 1000 copies/ml. RESULTS: Overall, 1064 ART 12-24 and 388 ART 48-60 participants were recruited. Viral suppression in the ART 12-24 group was 72.1% (95% CI: 66.3-77.2) overall, 75.0% (65.2-82.7) in urban sites, and 67.7% (58.3-75.8) in rural sites. In the ART 48-60 group, viral suppression was 67.7% (55.8-77.7). Overall, HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) was 17.7% (15.1-20.6) and 28.3% (17.4-42.5) in the ART 12-24 and ART 48-60 groups, respectively. However, among patients with VL ≥ 1000 copies/ml, HIVDR was identified in 63.3% (52.0-73.3) of ART 12-24 patients, and in 87.7% (67.4-96.1) of ART 48-60 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this first nationwide study indicate alarming levels of virological failure and ADR in Cameroon. Better ART management is urgently needed and should focus on improving ART adherence, availability of VL monitoring, and more timely switches to second-line ART.